Learning Stained Glass

The last few weeks I've been going up to my friend Jill's house to work on a small stained glass project. She has the perfect space for it in a yurt. I bring a six pack of beer, she stokes up the fire, and we work on glass.

Jill and Jen are great teachers, showing me tricks and tips and taking the time to do it right. They have all the "gear" needed, including lots of amazing slabs of glass in hues from marbled violet to bright sky blue.

Last week we made a pattern (right), numbering the areas that would be glass. We then traced over and duplicated it, cutting out the pieces on the second copy and pasting them onto the pieces of glass we wanted to use. We then scored and broke the glass with special pliers (wearing protective eye wear, of course).

This week we used Jill's grinder to make our edges smooth, and then got to apply copper foil. It makes the glass really pop out.

Next time we get out the soldering tool.


Jill demoing copper foiling: